Patient handling attachment for bathtubs



7 Jan. 15, 1952 Filed Feb. 28, 1948 c. v. DORR 2,582,586

PATIENT HANDLING ATTACHMENT FOR BATHTUBS 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. CHRLOS k 0 oee WM, M

Jan. 15, 1952 c, v, DORR PATIENT HANDLING ATTACHMENT FOR BATHTUBS Filed Feb. 28, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR. HELOS L Doe/e graq Jan. 15, 1952 c, v DORR 2,582,586

PATIENT HANDLING ATTACHMENT FOR BATHTUBS Filed Feb. 28, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR. HQL 05 L/ 0022 Patented Jan. 15, 1952 HANDLING ATTACHMENT F61 BATHTUBS e PATIENT Carlos V. Dorr, San Francisco, Calif. I Application February 28, 1948, Serial No. 11,900 1 7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a bath apparatus for use by invalids and persons that may have difficulty in getting into andout of a bathtub, although it is suitable for use by any person.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide apparatus that is economical, positive, rugged, and easily manipulated and that includes a seat for the person using the same, which is adapted to carry the person over the edge of the tub and then lower such person to the bottom of the tub after which the same seat will elevate the person out of the water for swinging over, the side of the tub.

-A- still further object of the invention is the provision of apparatus that is adapted to be permanently installed over one end of a tub where the latter adjoins the wall of the bath room at said end, and which apparatus is adapted to lower a person into the tub and to elevate such person out of the tub, and over one edge of such tub, but which apparatus will not interfere with the normal use of the tub by others not desiring to use the apparatus.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a single, simple post stationarily secured to a vertical wall adjoining one .end of a; bath tub and which post carries a seat adapted toswing about the axis. of said post for a position over one side of the tub to a position aligned over the tub basin at said-end and to reciproeably move vertically into and out of the tub when a person is carried on said seat and under full control of such person..

Heretofore devices have been designed for raising and lowering invalids into and out of a tub. Some have required supports or movable carriages disposed between the head or end of the tub and the wall, and are therefore not suitable for use where the ends of the tub adjoin walls, a structure common in most modern buildings.

Other devices have been devised requiring special tubs or alteration of such tubs.

The present invention is adapted to be quickly and easily installed in over one end of a bath tub where such end adjoins a vertical wall of the bath room, and requires no alteration in the tub. Also the patient using the same may readily be seated on the seat while outside the tub, after which the seat is adapted to swing over the end of the tub and is adapted to lower the patient directly into the tub free from the use of levers and swinging about a horizontal axis in asmuch as in the latter instance vitally important space is. lost in. effec neihe sw n and w idesirable bulk is reduired to take the strainsim-Q posed on the mechanism.

Otherobjects and advantages in the present.

invention will appear in the detailed drawing ,and in the description. 7

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a fragmentary per-,;

spective. view'of a-tub with the invention herein indicated in position, but with the handvalve,

and certain pipe lines omitted.

view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. ,5 is a fragmentary sectional, view ,of. a. modified form. of the invention as itwould ape pear if taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2...

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view. along the line 66 of Fig. 5. .z'

Fig. .7 is a diagrammatic view illustratingfther hydraulicsystem and piping for the invention; b. Fig. 8 1s a fragmentary plan view of, the device of Figs. 1, to 6 showing the position of the lseat aligned over the end of the tub in full ;line,:and

the position when swung over the edge of the tub in dot-dash lines.

. Fig. 9 is a plan view of a slightly different form of the invention illustrating the same with, the

seat. in three positions.

Fig. 10 is sectional view through a tub looking toward, the invention of Fig. 9 the latter being in elevation and. .the elevated position ofv the seat being indicated in dotted lines. I

Fig. 11 is a part sectional part, elevational view. of a slightly different form. of. the invention than,

is shown in the other views.

In'detail, the tub I in Fig. 3 illustrative of a modern tub in a bathroom, which tub ordinarily extendsat-its head end to a vertical side wall 2 of said room. Wall 3 adjoins wall 2 and extends alongside one of the longitudinally-extending sides of the tub.

At the head end of the tubis secured some instances to the head end. of the tub or to both the wall and to thetub adjacent their juncftures. .In' any event, post 4 is held against any Nr omen,

taken a vertical post 4, which post may be rigidly secured to wall 2 at its upper end by abracket or member 5, and another bracket or member 6 at the lower end may secure said lower end to the wall2 or way valve l0.

spaced from the wall 2 and over the head end of the tub.

The preferable position of the post 4 is over one of the corners of the tub at the head end. In Fig. 1 it is shown over the corner that is remote from the side wall 3, or which is adjacent the side of the tub that faces into the bathroom and over which side the batherwould normally enter thestii I The post 4 is formed" (Fig. 3) extending longitudinally therethrough with a passageway- "I from its lower end to an opening 8 (Fig. 2) that l is intermediate the opposite ends, Q y @ii? 1395.1

The lower end of said passageway communicates with a fluid inlet pipe 9 in which is a three Secured tosaid parallel ends 32 is a seat 35 1.2; gf said rmsmay be positioned substantially papaglel with the longitudinally extending sides Said valve is adapted to establisficgmmyrgkw cation between said passageway and a main water pressure line H. The latter maybe-the cold water line leading to the wash basin I2, which. is perhaps the most convenient. place. to.

make the connection inasmuchasitais exposed-:9.

and:readily.accessible. However, the connection could be madeto anyother suitable.- source of. fluid pressure or to the city water lineiatsome. othen point in the bathroom;

Valve Jain oneof: its. other positions establish communication between. the. passage-.. way I and a drain pipe Mnand -atthe same. time close off the pipe 9 (Fig. 7 whereupon. any fluid in said passageway will drain there-from..- Said drain pipe [4 may in turn,- discharge. into thev drain pipe of theatub or the. pipe-[510i thebasinl2 or to any other suitable place for drainclosesall ports leading therefrom or thereto.

Secured rigidly to post.4 he'low -said opening. 8 is a 1 pistonand enclosing said piston coaxial therewith and with post 4 isacylinder 2|; Cylinder 2| has ahead 22 at its upper endhaving a packing gland 23 through w-hich the post .extends and which forms a:liquidsealzbetweenthe. post and cylinder whilepermitting the. cylinder to reciprocate longitudinally thereof 'onsaidpost and to also rotate-about. the-post.

The lower end of -the; cylincl'er i's preferably areasonably close sliding fit on the post, but is not necessarily liquid tight, inasmuch as any: liquid that might enter the cylinder below the piston, should there .beanyleakaga between .said piston and saidcylinder, will:drainirom-the lower portion ofthe cylinder into-the tubi Such leak-- age is' not usual; 'but' could occur,- in whichevent no harm is done and: the device is w perfectly 0p erativeand: will continue. to-be.

From the foregoing description it will-.be seen that by" turning-the handle-24-so= as to. establish communication betweemthe. pressure. lined I: and

the passageway 8, the-.cylinderlfl willzmoveupwardly. to-v the limit permitted: by the post .4 or

to the height; desired; whereupon. valve: 1:0: may; be-actuatedto .closeall ports opening: therefrom. andithe cylinder will; rema elevated; B ma:-

n pu t ng hand eflita st hlishzc mmun eaticn between passageway l and the dr v thecylincler -l .leweabaemrihe at aseeedsdetermin d y. he. eere... e a iont Phe.- -v n h v sees ty came lu d-.1 Wa er is pre erably u e installatio s ,;her1 ce thdflow. willgrernain n n Q: th valve i respect e of, emper ur onditio s. or,-

ih an i ly e-sam for milar n ncou t red water. systems. S r 'df th lower'end, or, 1.0.

divergently outwardly and "laterally from the may,

33, 3:2;of thetub I and over the latter.

pmwlligheansrsen.ma i when p itio d b tween the arms 32, the said seat having hanger extensions 36 supported at their upper ends on said arms 32 and depending therefrom to said seat."

I h ad of; ylinder: 4..are,.a,.pa ryoiiar ns 30.3.!1that xtendfj The entireseat includingthe extensions tfi may f p metal, p wood, canvas. or. any desiredcombination. For example, the, hanger ex; tensions 36 that. are indicated, the; draw n s may be of canvas, having loops at; their; upper endsHthroug-h which. thearms 32 extend and the seat portion 35;:nay. be. of; plastic or other relatively rigidmaterial, andihe canvas 91 ex tensions 36. may extend. below the same- Rre p' erably, the seat. hasannpstaildiHIiHl 4t and, the canvas hangers .3151 extend partially. around the rear of the seat.

In the..position.in.which.the arms; are. over the sides.3-3, 3 S ofthetuh and substantially; thereon, theseat- 35 is practically on thehQti Qmoithe tub. In fact, it. may: be entire-bottom, if; desired.- 2 The. cylinder 21: is; then. at supst antially the-lower end of; its stroke and the. wat r-.1

exhausted, orsubstantially: exhausted the imm- When the valve. lllz'is marlil lulfitted to; eleyate thecylinder, the.- seat; will clear; BQ: per. edge 33 of the bath tub, anclpifti'uan beswunslaterally, rotating theisame abolltthe axis of the cylinder and post l;. .until; the; seat. is; swung to position 42. (Big-1.8:);aerossand-past the;v upper, edge- .33: of said tub..

When in said. elevated; ataheight convenient. iior..a.pers,onv to be; seated; thereon and thee-liquid: withinthe. cylinder. Will. hold the sameelevated with such person-entire, seat. Saidpersonthen 'merely swings overthe edge 33 and in a position withthaseat. aligned. over; theheadend-of the tub- By manipulating valve 10' so that the water or: liquid thereinqwill pass into the drain, theper-son will. be. lowered to the bottom-of the tub. The degreezoi opening, of valve-HI to the-drain wil1-c0ntro1 the speed of descent; but-'o rdinarl-y'it-is impossible-to cause too rapid-a descent tube-safe, even with quitefeeble persons who might find too rapid a descent-F undesirable.

By providing sockets dd'on'the head 25. (Figs 5;,

6); it would be-poss-ible-tmhave the armstfi; 31 readily removable.- The "shoulders at the junc- J tions between thesq-uare ends-ofthe arms and the cylindrical portions would functionasstops.

Of; course any; desirable-stop projections could be secured-onthe armsgand the lattencould be.-.:

squarefbr their'entireilengths 'Ihe' arms asshown; ;-F'ig s-. 5', 6, maybe easily slipped out of the sockets; and when in the latter-the angularrelationshipbetween-the. such thatany-weighton theseatw-ill tend tohold! 1 76 the arms more tightl-y' 'in thesockets, thereby i position, the seatiss avoidingany chance of their accidentally slipping out during use of the device.

Also, and if desired, the hangers 36 can be slipped from'arms 30, 3|. Thus the tub can be used by anyone not desiring to use the elevator or lift device, and there will be no interference by the latter. Removal of the seat facilitates washing the fabric portion aswell as the seat, when and if they become soiled.

In the form of the invention as seen in Figs. 9, the same numbers as have already been used will be repeated where they identify identical parts.

In the invention as shown in Figs. 9, 10 the post 4' and cylinder 2| including piston 20, are the same as seen in Fig. 1. However, the post is secured in position in the corner of the bath room adjacent the juncture between walls 2, 3.

With the cylinder 2| in the corner, instead of securing the seat and the arms carrying the same directly to the lower end of the cylinder, a horizontal arm 50 is secured at one end to the lower end of the cylinder. This arm 50 is preferably in the form of a channel with the channel opening directed laterally and toward the foot end of the tub when said arm extends across the head end, as seen in Fig 9.

The seat support in the form of invention shown in Figs. 9, 10 comprises a U-shaped tubular member 55 disposed with the legs thereof extending horizontally and vertically pivoted at 56 to the outer end of arm 50. The closed end of member 55 is preferably positioned within the channel of arm 50 at the outer end of the latter, and said pivot 56 is at a point in the closed end portion 51 of said member 55 intermediate arms 58 thereof.

The seat 35 including the flexible support 36 are identical with seat 35 and hangers 36 of Fig. 1.

The length of arm 50 and the position of pivot 56 are such that when the arm 50 is in full line position over the upper end of the tub (Fig. 9), and the cylinder 2| is lowered, the seat 35 will be lowered into the tub exactly as is the case in Figs. 1 to 8. When the arm 50 is in elevated position 6| (Fig. 10) and is swung to dot-dash position 59, and the member 51 is swung on pivot 56, the seat will be swung over the edge 33 of the tub to position 60 (Fig. 9), which substantially corresponds with position 42 of Fig. 8.

In the form of invention as shown in Fig. 11 a cylinder 15 is secured to the wall 3 adjacent the juncture between walls 2, 3. A second cylinder I6 is vertically reciprocable within this cylinder 15, the latter functioning as a support and guide for cylinder 16, thus not making it necessary for a post, such as the post 4 in Fig. 1, to extend through cylinder 16. I

Post 11 is hollow and open ended, and carries piston 18 at its upper end and the fluid or liquid is conducted through post I1 from pipe 9 for injection into cylinder I6 above the piston. The cylinder 16, which carries laterally projecting arm 19 at its lower end, will be elevated when the liquid is injected into cylinder 16.

Arm 19 carries D-shaped member 51 at its outer end, said member being identical with the member 51 of Fig. 10. Pivot 80 pivotally secures said member to the outer end of arm 19.

The positions of the seat 35 when supported on arm 19 are identical with those to which seat 35 in Figs. 9, 10 are adapted to swing.

While no packing gland is required in the form of invention as shown in Fig. 11, such as the gland 23 of Fig. 2, the invention as shown in Fig. 11 is slightly more costly than that of either Figs. 1 or 10. i

In each of the different forms of the invention, the arms from which the seat is suspended are preferably slightly ofiset downwardly from points 8| although this is not absolutely essential.

By the arrangement as described, there are no vertically swinging levers or complicated lever arrangements, and the bathtub and walls of the bathroom do not require alteration. The device is compact and out of the way over the head end of the tub. It is always in position ready for use, but its presence in no way interferes with the use of the tub in the normal manner. The complete device can be installed in a few hours time by any competent workman, and the device is absolutely safe to use and is easy manipulated by any person. Any possible mistake in the manipulation of valve l0 does no harm and cannot cause injury.

I claim:

1. In a bath apparatus of the character described, a vertical post, means for securing said post to a wall adjacent one end of a bathtub, a cylinder coaxial with said post slidably and rotatably carried by the latter, means for causing upward movement of said cylinder on said post including a piston secured to said post within said cylinder and an inlet for fluid under pressure communicating with the space between said piston and the upper end of said cylinder, a head on said cylinder in sealing sliding engagement with said post, and a seat carried by the lower end of said cylinder for movement therewith, said seat being ofiset to one side of said cylinder for swinging from a position over the end of said tub adjacent thereto to a position over one side of said tub when said cylinder is elevated and rotated on said post.

2. In a bath apparatus of the characterdescribed, a vertical post, means for securing said post to a wall adjacent one end of a bathtub, a cylinder coaxial with said post slidably and rotatably carried by the latter, means :for causing upward movement of said cylinder on said post including a piston secured to said post within said cylinder and an inlet for fluid under pressure communicating with the space between said piston and the upper end of said cylinder, a head on said cylinder in sealing sliding engagement with said post, and a seat carried by the lower end of said cylinder for movement therewith, said seat being offset to one side of said cylinder for swinging from a position over the end of said tub adjacent thereto to a position over one side of said tub when said cylinder is elevated and rotated on said post, a head at the lower end of said cylinder through which said post extends in slidable engagement therewith,

laterally projecting arms on the lower end of,

said cylinder carrying said seat at their outer ends.

3. In a bath apparatus of the character described, a vertical post, means for securing said post to a wall adjacent one end of a bathtub, a cylinder coaxial with said post slidably and rotatably carried by the latter, means for causing upward movement of said cylinder on said post including a piston secured to said post within said cylinder and an inlet for fluid under pressure communicating with the space between said piston and the upper end of said cylinder, a head on said cylinder in sealing sliding engagement with said post-and za-sseatacarried my the lower endef s'aid eylmder rior movement therewith, said seat being ofiset to one side of sa'idzcylinder,

for swing ing from a position ioverethe end of a head and removablysecured thereto and carry:

ing said seat at their i outer ends.

*4: In "a bath apparatus of the character described,- a vertical'icylindrical post, means at Bthe upperand "lower endsof saidpost' for rigidlysupporting the same spaced from-but adjacenta wall 015abathroom and adjacent the head of a tub in such room, a pi'ston secured rigidly on said post-coaxial therewith, a cylinder coaxial with said post enclosing said piston and reciprocable relative to the latter longitudinally of saidipost, a passageway for fluid under pressure within'said post extending from its lower end to a point adjacent-and above said piston and communieating with-the interior of s'aid cylinder at said point; heads ''at the upper and lower ends of said cylinder through which said post slidably extends, a -seat carrying device secured at one end to' the lower end of said cylinder and projecting laterailly-Trom :said lower end and a seat on 'the-pther-endof saiid device for supporting a person seated thereon, said "post and cylinder swingable about' the axis of =saids ost from its elevated position :over said one end to=a:position over the side ofsaid tub whereby such person will be carried to said side, fluid pressure means including controls therefore connected with the lower :end of'said passa'geway for causing upward and downward movement :of said cylinder and seat on said post.

5. In a bath apparatus of the character -.described'the combination of -a support mounted to -'swing-- about a vertical axis and to move reciprocably up and down parallel with said-axis, aseat secured to said support for movement therewith, said support being capable of being swung into a position 'to-enab'le saidsea't to align over the interior :of-one end o'f-a tub, and-means associated with said support enabling the same tdbelowerd to carry-said seat into said tub at said one-end and to enable thesame tobe raised thereafter out 'of said tub, and means securing said-support against verticalswing-ing movement at all times and restricting the same to said are- Oiprocable' movement and to lateral swinging, said support including spaced,- horizontally *disposed arms, and-salid seat being secured to said arms and depending therefrom a suIficient distance to -p0sit1on said seat "substantially on the 8?;- bottom 10f sai'd :tub when -saidarmfs are horizontal and are substantially even with the top, :said

tub." L i I i .;a death apparatus :of :the .:character described, a vertical post, a bracket for securing the upper. endof isaidipostastationary to a vertical wall of a bath room with the said post spaced from said wall -and -:0ver one end of a tub insaid room, a support carried by said po'st projecting laterally therefrom and including .a pair of :horizontally extending horizontally-spaced :arms, .a seat ,secured at opposite :sides to :said arms and depending therefrom with the bottom of\ said seat spaced b'e'low saidarms a'sufficient distance to substantially rest on the bottomof said .itub when-said arms :are adjacent the :upper edges'of the sides- -of said tub, said support being everticallyh reciprocable on said post and revolva-ble-aoout its axis, and :means-for loweringand for elevating said support on said post for lowering and rfor raisinga person onsaid seat intoand out ofrsaid tub.

7. In a bath apparatus of the character de: scribed, a vertical post, a bracket for securing the upper-end ofrsaid post stationary to'a vertical wall of :a bathroom :with thesaidrpost rspacedifrom said wall andover oneendpf a tub in said room; a support carried by said postprojectingilaterally therefrom and including :a pair of horizontally 1 extending horizontally, spaced -,arms, :a sea-tsecured at o-pposite sides to :said arms =an'djdepending therefrom with the :bottom of said-seat spaced below -said arms asumcient distance to substantially rest on the bottom of said tub when zsaid arms are adjacent the upper edges of thessides of said-tub, said support "being vertically re,- ciprocable on said post and revolvable about its axis, and means .for lowering and for elevating said support -,on said post ;for lowering and for h raising a person on said seat into and out ofisaid REFERENCES erran The "following references are of record in file of "this patent: the

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 274,527 Stelle et a1; Mar. .2'1, 1883 2,087,286 Hicks July 20., 1937 2,187,283 Schuetz Jan. 16, 19.40

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date Austria Aug. i0; 19.09 

